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American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, AMCHAM, Seoul

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, better known as AMCHAM, was founded in 1953 with a broad mandate to encourage the development of trade and commerce between Korea and the United States. Our membership has grown to over 2,300 members and includes over 1,000 member companies.

Office Hours:
Monday to Friday from 8AM to 5PM
Closed for Lunch from 12PM to 1PM

MISSION:
Although the functions of today's Chamber are as varied as the types of businesses it represents, the basic aims of all AMCHAM functions are:
- to promote and protect the interests of member companies operating in Korea.
- to represent and relay the opinions of the American business community to the Korean government, and to Korean trade and industry associates as well as to U.S. government officials.

A SOURCE OF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION:
Within the U.S. and Korea, efforts are made to keep members informed and to encourage them to participate in Chamber activities. The quarterly Journal, provides useful outlines of local trade, business, financial and industrial news to members local and abroad. Other publications provide members with information and assistance on living, working, and solving problems in Korea.

SEMINARS AND BRIEFINGS:
AMCHAM Korea has institutionalized its ability to organize seminars and Breakfast Briefings for visiting business-people and politicians, to assist in acquainting them with business conditions in Korea. Meetings are also arranged for members who wish to meet with others of similar business interests to discuss specific issues.

US EMBASSY INVOLVEMENT:
The Chamber enjoys excellent standing with the U.S. Embassy. The Ambassador is the Chamber's Honorary Chairman, and she and her staff hold periodic briefings for members of AMCHAM. The annual "Know Your Embassy" program is a special orientation for members to help them better understand the services offered by the U.S. Embassy.

The Chamber also sponsors functions at which visiting U.S. Members of Congress, and occasionally Cabinet Members, meet informally with AMCHAM members in small sessions to discuss areas of specific interest.

MEMBER PARTICIPATION:
Meetings for the entire membership are held monthly, in which guest speakers, both from Korea and abroad, discuss topical economic and political news and events. This provides a useful perspective for business-people in Korea.

Much of the important business of the Chamber, however, is conducted over 30 committees through regularly-scheduled monthly meetings.

DOOR-KNOCK TEAM TO WASHINGTON:
In the Spring of each year, AMCHAM Korea sends a team of Chamber representatives to Washington on an independent "Door-Knock" program. This mission is organized solely for AMCHAM interests, and is a strong indication of the importance of today's trade relationship between Korea and the U.S. The AMCHAM Korea team informs congressional leaders of the current market situation here and makes recommendations on actions that should be taken to reach mutually-agreeable solutions to trade problems.

AMCHAM Korea has grown from its very modest beginnings in the year the Korean War ended to a large professional organization with an ever-increasing influence on the trade and business relationship between the U.S. and Korea. It derives its strength from the scope of its membership and from the efforts of the volunteer committee members who do the work and achieve the results. AMCHAM is at the center of business activities and has established full credibility with the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Government.